Hancock hands Vaqueros first shutout, 4-0

Nathan Thompson pitched scoreless baseball for 7 2/3 innings on Tuesday and SBCC committed two errors, leading to three unearned runs in a 4-0 WSC North loss to Hancock in Santa Maria.

It was first time the Vaqueros, ranked No. 3 in Southern Cal, have been shut out this season. SBCC fell to 14-4 and 3-1 while the fifth-ranked Bulldogs improved to 13-4-1 and 3-1.

"They made fewer mistakes than us and we beat ourselves," said Vaquero coach Jeff Walker. "We had our catcher throw a ball away on a bunt that led to a run. Then we had runners on second and third with one out in the sixth and our No. 2 and 3 hitters strike out.

"It was a very disappointing effort. Our defense cost us the game."

Thompson, a sophomore left-hander, allowed just two hits with six strikeouts and three walks. He's 5-0 on the year with a 0.84 ERA. Justin Bruce pitched well for the Vaqueros, giving up one earned run in seven innings.

Hancock took a 2-0 lead in the second. Felipe Gonzalez led off with a single, then Bruce got two flyouts. Ron Regalado walked and Kyle Smith bunted. Catcher Patrick O'Brien threw the ball over the first baseman's head and Gonzalez scored. Angel Guillen followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0.

The Bulldogs added two more in the sixth on a two-out, two-run single by Ryan Bendele.

The Vaqueros host Cuesta on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.